Stomach tube



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, 1929. J. A. WILKlNs NQV. 19'

STOMACH TUBE Original Filed Dec. l2. 1927 AT'ToRN EY WITNESS:

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'enormen TUBE Application led December 12, 1927, Serial No. 239,536. 'Renewed March 29, 1929.

This invention relates to such tubes as are used for insertion downward through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach for ascertaining the nature of. the contents of the stomach for diagnostic purposes or for assing liquid downward into the stomach or laving or for feeding the patient.

The object of the invention is to provide such a tube in simple form and of large low capacity relative to the diameter of the tube.

A further object of the invention is to pro'- vide such a tube with-its lower end so loaded with weight material as to adapt that material to cause the tube to slide downward bybgravity action on the lower part of the tu e. i

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 isa longitudinal, sectional view thxB'ough theimproved tube;

1 weig ted part detachably joined to the rest of the tube; i v

Figure 3 is a section on the line, 3 3, of Figure 1, showing lateral'ports;

Fi ure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, and .showing shot or other pieces of metal used as the weight producing means. v

'In the drawings, 1 illustrates the structureconsisting of a tube made of soft and 3o l'lexible rubber, its upper end being thickened as shownat 2 for'the attachment of' an aspirator or funnel. A diaphragm or artition, 4, also preferably formed of ruber, is placed in the tube and .firmly attached to the walls thereof. rThis diaphragm is located far enough from the closed lower end of the tube to form a chamber, 5, at the lower part of the tube for receiving a body of mercury (quicksilver) or other heavy materlal body or mass which is not rigid. When inserted at the beginning of the esophagus, this weighted end of the tube will slide downward and draw the tube downward through the esophagus until the lower end of the tube is in the'stomach or the duodenum,

this movement being effected by gravity without. the necessity. of using a stylet or other device for insert-ing the tube. The part of the structure above the diaphragm is the main part of the structure. Above and near the re 2 is a detail view showing theweighted part, the wall ofthe main part is provided with holes or ports, 6, for the entrance of stomach or duodenal contents or for the exit of a fluid when the structure is used for treatment by lavage or for feeding a'patlent. In Fig. l, the walls of the chamber,`5, are integral with the b'ody of the tube, 1. Tn Fig. 2, a supplemental tube section, 7, 1s substituted for the chamber, 5, of Fig. 1. The lower end of the tube and the upper end of said section are each closed by a transverse wall. A bolt, 8, extends through 'saidv transverse walls, the head, 9, of the bolt being in the section, 7, and the nut, 10, being in the lower end of the tube, 1. This auxiliary section ispreferably made of the same diameter as the body of the tube, 1, and also of rubber, in order that it will be pliable like the tube, 1. The section, 7, is also to vreceive mercury. vThe mercury bein a liquidnonrigid-the chamber,`5, an also the section, 7, may bend as required while being inserted for use.

In Fig. 4, the structure is the same as in Fig. 2, excepting that themercury is omitted and lead -shot or other loose pieces of heavy material adapted to move on each other are substituted,the pieces of material allowing the section, 7, to bend as permitted by the Walls of said section.

The material used for adding weight to the lower'end of the tube 1 $Fig. 1) or the section attached thereto igs. 2 and 4) should be mobile or movable on itself when confined within the chamber, so that .the Weight containing member may, during its downward or upward movements, readily shape itself to the curves of the throat, esophagus, stomach and duodenum.

Since the weighted part of the structure is flexible or pliable, it may be made long` enough to provide sufficient weight.

It is to= be noted thatthe tubeis of soft and flexible rubber throughout; that there is no metal at the exterior of the tubel to injure the mucous membrane of the stomach metal tips of tubes in or duodenum as the There is no metal tip common use can do.

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. which can become separated and get into a bronchus.

' The holes or ports, 6, for entrance of the gastric -or duodenal contents have rubberk margins, and thereforerno reasonable amount of suction at the upper end of the tube can injure the adjacent mucous membrana as may occur with tubes'having metal tips in which the corresponding holes have metal boundaries. Y Y

At the ports or holes, 6, the liquid contents of the stomach or duodenum pass through the tube more rapidly with the same amount of suction' at the free end by means of an aspirator than is the case in the types of stomach tubes in common use; for the lumen of the ports, 6, is large enough and theV ports' are of suflicient number to allow easy How into lthe tube. But they lumen of each port is less than the lumen of the tube. That precludes entrance of lumps or masses of food or mucus into the tube large enough to lodge in and obstruct the tube. Thus aspiration is facilitated: l I

Since the -tube is suiiciently ,weighted at its lower end by mercury (quicksilver) or other suitable weight material, a wire stylet, such asis usually placed into ,the ordinary flexible rubber stomach tube to facilitate its 3,0 passage by means of pressure 'from above by the operator, 'is'unnecessary Consequently the danger of puncture of the wall of the esophagus or stomach by the lower end of 4' the stylet leaving the tube through either an opening already the tube orthrough an opening accidentally made, does not exist.

The tube can be used for diagnostic aspiration of the stomach or duodenal contents plain.

or for internal lavin'g' or for feeding an unconscious patient, vwithout any downward force being applied from above by theoperator, since the weightat the lower end of the tube together with peristalsis will insureV rapid" downward passage of the tube. This minimizes the disagreeableness of the proc ess, of which patients almost always com- This tube meets less resistan'cev during its downward movement than is the case in the ordinary type of stomach or duodenal tube, since, in my tube the diameter is small, that being permitted because the lumen is large 1n proportion to the diameter.. lThe diameter need not be more than a fourth of an inch, While on some other stomach tubes the tips are more than one-fourth of an inch in` diameter. e

While, as above-stated, my tube 1s .large I claim as my invention:

1. A stomach tube structure-comprisinga` iexible weighted lower part and a' flexible main part having ports above and near the weighted part.

2. A stomach tube structure comprising a 7,0

flexible weighted lower part anda flexible main part having ports above and near the' weighted part, the diameter of the wei hted part and the diameter o-the main part ing substantially the same. f'

3. A stomach tube structure comprising a flexible weighted lower part and a iexible main part havin ports above and near the weightedl part, t e lumen' of the individual' ports considered separately being less than the lumen ofthe main part'of the structure.

4, A stomach tube structure comprising a flexible weighted lower part and a. lexible mainpart having ports above and near the ports considered separately 'being less than the lumen of the main part of the structure but the aggregate lumen of the ports being as large as the lumen of said main part.

5. A stomach tube structure comprising a` flexible tube closed at its lower end, weight material in the lower end, a partition above they weight material, the tube wall having ports above and near said partition.

6. A stomach tube structure comprising aA weighted part, the lumen of the individual ing less than'the lumen of the tube above the ports.

In testimony whereofI aiiix my si nature. v JAMES A. WIL INS.

enough to be used for gastric diagnosis or simple of construction'and it 

